Hebrew Heroes, A Tale Founded on Jewish History

tuated in a very secluded spot amongst the hills, not a mile from Jerusalem. They sat opposite to each other, engaged--aft

sins hung on the walls, jars of olive-oil and honey were neatly ranged on the floor; nor lacked there stores of millet, lentiles, and dried figs, such being the food on which chiefly subsisted the dwellers in that lonely home. A curtain, now drawn aside divided this store-place from the larger front room

one, engaged in her monotonous task. It was not that she was unwilling to spend her strength in humble toil, or that she murmured because her grandmother Hadassah had no longer men-servants and but one maid-servant to do her bidding. Zarah had too much of the spirit of a Ruth to shrink from work, or to complain of poverty, if sh

ere you could retire to rest," said the voice of Hadassah, as

her grandmother, first meekly kissed the hem of

ream of horror. Oh, ruthless Abishai, most cruel of men! will not the All-merciful, who cares f

teous and wicked d

as my start and exclamation which directed the murderer's eye

om; "the guilt lies on the head of Abishai, and on his head alone. Had he not been the beloved of my

bowed his head, and said 'Content' when his life was trembling in the balance--looked to me as one of the goodly angels that came to Sodom at eve! Better, if he must needs die, that the Greek should have fallen by the javelin of my brave kinsman Judas, than by the dagger of Abishai. Mother," cried Zarah, suddenly raising her head, and looking into the face of Hadassah with an earnest, pleadin

ising her eyes towards heaven; "verily the dream that visi

d Zarah, who always addressed by t

n dwelling, have been called the sitting-room. This, with the place which they had just quitted, and two sleeping apartments above, which were reached by a rough stair on the exterior

ture upon skins that were spread on the tiled floor; and while Zarah list

dly to look upon, with a strange spiritual beauty not seen on this side of the tomb. The feet of the women rested not on the earth, but they gently floated above

hter of Abraham. For the sake of David, born of my line, and for the sake of Him who was the R

ab, yet received as a daughter of Abraham. For the sake of David, born of my line, and for the sake of Him who was the Ro

hai!" exclaimed Zarah; "then might he not th

, suddenly; "was that

was on her feet and at the door be

ed Zarah, trembling as she bent over the form of Lycidas,

h morning air had restored him to consciousness; unable to rise, Lycidas had yet managed to drag himself feebly along for some distance,

restore consciousness to the wounded man. Hadassah, like many of her countrywomen, had knowledge of the healing art. Zarah brought of the balm of Gilead and reviving wine; Anna dragged into the inner room mats and skins, that the sufferer might have something softer to rest upon than the hard floor. Zarah and the servant then retired, by the order of H

e any marks by which a wounded man could be tracked to m

ning pale at the thought of a repetition, in the sacred precincts of home, of the hor

h; "but--may I be forgiven the inhospitable thought!--I would t

ers ever pass it--we lead lives so retired--we can,

o harbour for weeks, or more probably months, a man, and that man a Gentile. Anxiously she revolved the matter in her mind, but

would be to deliver over Miriam's husband to the executioner's sword. This young man is bound alike by honour and gratitude to preserve silence as to what passed by the grave; but there is nothing to prevent him

he suffering--admiration for the beautiful and brave,--combined to awaken in the maiden strong interest in the fate of the stranger. Zara

His servant suffer for striving to do His bidding. The wounded stranger, Gentile though he be, needs hospitality, and I dare not refuse it. If the Lord ha